The National Green Tribunal has directed status quo on a plea challenging a notice by the Bengaluru rural district authorities to stop breeding Indian catfish mistaking it as African fish.
A bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel issued a notice to Tahsildar, Hoskote Taluka, Bengaluru Rural District on an application filed by Chand Pasha.
Advocate Varun K Chopra, representing Pasha, contended that the notices were issued to the applicant for stopping of cultivation of catfish, without proper scientific research. "It was per se arbitrary and violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21, right to livelihood, personal liberty,” he contended.
The counsel pointed out the tribunal had on September 6, 2017, recorded a statement of Union Ministry of Agriculture, that Indian catfish breeding was not banned in the state of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
He further contended the applicant, a farmer, was involved in Indian catfish cultivation for several years without any complaints, neither from sellers nor from consumers.
"Indian Catfish has never been reported as a cause of damage to the environment (water) or humans consuming it, thus restraining cultivation of such a high yielding variety would lead to a loss of livelihood, employment of the applicant," his plea stated.
Taking note of the submission, the tribunal issued a notice to the Karnataka government authorities, seeking their response by August 10.
"In the meantime, the parties are directed to maintain the status-quo with regard to catfish breeding in view of the order dated 6th September 2017," the bench ordered.
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